ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Post-Treatment => Topic started by: feline on December 06, 2014, 03:01:45 pm
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Seen dr chang with MRI on 12-3 clear and progressing as I should about 5 1/2 months post translab but I have a question for whomever I will be going back to work in January dealing with the public how do u think the public in general will react to me with my facial paralysis and sutured eye ???
Feline
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I went back to work 2 months after my surgery with left sided facial paralysis, a weighted eye and a cane. I worked in Child Protective Services. I was in the public all of the time. No one said anything. I did however feel that I did not hold as much weight, like people did not take my intelligence as seriously, but that was probably all my own insecurities. I left that job about 10 months after my surgery, as it was not good for my soul and I could not keep up to the needed pace. I have had a hard time finding a job that I actually can do successfully.
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Thank you for info and do not give up on getting a job anybody else have public experience in their job
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Any other public dealings at work
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I went back to work with facial paralysis, my eye was bright red and usually looked like I was crying because of constant drops. I don't work in the "public," but I do take the bus and roam downtown with strangers. Everyone has been great--no one has mentioned my face or acted any differently toward me. I definitely feel different now though. I had some goals pre-surgery, and now I am content just doing my job. I've even had people suggest different job openings, but I feel like I'm lucky just to have the job I do!
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Anyone else ?
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I went back to work at something like 3 1/2 months post op. I am a nurse working in mental health. Surprisingly reactions from my patient's were not that dramatic, sometimes it's a problem but not really. I found the general public more of an issue than my patients, people starring and the like but nothing that significant.
I think you need to just focus on how you feel about yourself, forget what others might think or say, that way it won't bother you if others have a negative reaction
Kathleen
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Thank you for the input
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How people react to my facial paralysis has a lot to do with how I feel about it: If I choose to be self-conscious then I notice others are insecure looking at me; but if I present myself as a whole person and not just my distorted face, then I notice people don't have an issue with my face.
Some days are easier than others.